The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-10


of hastily approaching footsteps, and {
familiar voice cried:
Courage for another moment, Mis-,
Tempest, and that brute shall have the
punishment he deservesr'
In another instant Mr.. Winston had
dashed down the steps from an upper
gallery, seized the muttering, mouthing
idiot, and pinioned his arms behind with
huge handkerchief the delinquent wore
twisted round his neck.
Don't hurt the poor wretch" said
Valerie; 'he's crazy, and not responsible
for his conduct.
"I'm not going to hurt him, but
mean to have him just where he cannot
molest you, or any one else again. How
lucky l happened TO choose Just this
hour for look at the mosaics over the
choir That fellow was capable of fright
ening you to death, at least
''Let us get out of this prison; l think
/ can thank you more as you deserve, out
in the sunshine" said Valerie with a
shiver.
"What's thisl-the door not opened
yet, and no custodian to come to our re-
lease2 That last blow gave was enough
to awake the dead"
"What can be the matter2 the man
must have fallen down in a fit, that he
docs not come to let us out"
Again, repeated poundings on the door
availed nothing, and Valerie and her
rescuer were forced to accept the fact that
they were prisoners. With the best
grace possible, Mr.. Winston pulled out
n oil han hiaf 80, q Ha
marble bench for Valerie to sit upon-it
was a little better than the cold stone. In
doing so, little embroidered scrap of a
handkerchief fell from his pocket
to the floor. Valerie recognized it at
once as hers. He blushed crimson and
hastily put it back into his pocket She
pretended to be quite oblivious of the
incident, but it set her heart to beating
with intense JOY that he seemed willing to
cherish anything that had belonged to
her. How kind and sauve and gentle he
had suddenly become Perhaps it was
their common misery at being shut up
alone in cold, ghostly church that
thawed the stiffness which had heretofore
existed between them. Whatever the
mysterious influence, Valerie found cour-
age to broach the painful subject of Ger
ties letter, and poured into her cOmpan-
ions ear her great regret at her own stu
pid, childish speeches which must have
hurt his feelings so deeply.
''Let us forget all that, )" he said talk
ing Valeric's unresisting fingers for a mo-
ment in his "Listen; l think our Jail
er is coming at last In my heart can
not blame the fellow for his carelessness
(excopt for the fright you had from our
friend tied to the pillar there; it has Of
forded me the happiest hour have spent
in Florence"
The custodian, overwhelmed with con-
triton, opened the door for the prisoners.
He had been sent on an unexpected is
rand; Pietro, whom he had commits
stoned to unlock the door, had gone to
sleep and forgotten all about it, the ras-
cal!
Valerie and her hero sat in the moon
light looking down upon the Arno.
"Why did YOU not fall in love with
Gertie Ellis instead of waiting for foolish
little me" she asked presently, after one
ofthose long silences approved of by low
ers.
Because she has red hair, and is des-
perate flirt, both of which l regard with
the same horror as a certain friend of
mine processes for a man with glass
eye"
"How cruel of you-'
A kiss changed into a smile the droop
that for an instant saddened the girls
lips.-Frank Leslies.